ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — In a commanding display of home-field dominance, South Carolina State overwhelmed Howard from the opening kickoff, securing a decisive 42 to 12 victory on Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

The Bulldogs (7-3) set the tone immediately, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and never looking back, while the Bison (4-6) struggled to find any offensive consistency throughout the contest.

South Carolina State’s offense was efficient and multifaceted. Quarterback William Atkins IV, a Parkton, Maryland native, orchestrated the attack effectively, completing 15 of 23 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. His primary target was Jalen Johnson of New Orleans, who hauled in six receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.

The Bulldogs’ ground game was equally potent, with Josh Shaw leading the way with 64 rushing yards and a touchdown on just nine carries. The scoring started early, with Shaw plunging in from one yard out to cap a methodical opening drive.

The game’s momentum shifted decisively just moments later. Howard quarterback Tyriq Starks of Carol City, Florida, was intercepted by Bulldogs defensive back Jarod Washington of Fredericksburg, Virginia, who returned the pick 27 yards for a touchdown. The play stretched the lead to 14-0 and put the Bison in a deep early hole.

South Carolina State capped its first-quarter explosion with another Atkins IV touchdown pass, a short connection to Jordan Smith of Blythewood that extended the lead to 21-0.

Howard’s offense, led primarily by Starks, could not muster a sustained response. Starks finished 7 of 22 for 97 yards and two interceptions, while also being sacked multiple times. The Bison’s first points came late in the second quarter on a 38-yard field goal by Matt Conord of Lithia, Florida, making the score 21 to 3.

Any hope of a Howard rally was extinguished just before halftime. After driving into scoring position, the Bison had a field goal attempt blocked, and Washington scooped up the loose ball and returned it for an apparent score, further widening the gap as the teams headed to the locker rooms.

The Bulldogs continued their assault in the third quarter, adding two more touchdowns to put the game completely out of reach. Atkins IV found Johnson for a 34-yard scoring strike, and Smith added a 6-yard rushing touchdown to push the score to 42 to 3.

Howard managed to find the end zone in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. After a safety accounted for two points, backup quarterback Terrell Russell of Montgomery, Alabama, entered the game and connected with Eric Slater of Detroit on a 48-yard touchdown pass. Russell finished 2 of 3 for 49 yards and the score.

The Bison’s offensive struggles were emblematic of a difficult day. Beyond the quarterback issues, the running game managed only sporadic gains, with Anthony Reagan Jr. of Camden, New Jersey, leading the team with 34 yards on 12 carries. The defense did force two interceptions, from CJ Dale Jr. of Lake Placid, Florida, and Kaleb Gallop of Portsmouth, Virginia, but the early deficit was too large to overcome.

Special teams were a bright spot for Howard, with punter Liam Allen IV of Lake Mary, Florida, averaging 41.8 yards on eight punts, including a long of 55 yards. Antonio Hunter of Cincinnati provided a spark in the return game, taking one punt back 58 yards.

For South Carolina State, the win marks their third in a row as they continue a strong campaign. The loss is the second straight for Howard, which has now been outscored 77 to 26 in its last two outings.

The result closely mirrored the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a South Carolina State victory with a final score of 41 to 26. Despite Howard being installed as a pregame underdog with a spread of +15.5, the Bulldogs easily covered. The total score of 54 points went under the betting over/under line of 49.5.

South Carolina State now looks ahead to a short week, traveling to face North Carolina Central on Friday, November 14. Howard will seek to rebound on the road against Delaware State on Saturday, November 15.